If you’re judging a professional athlete, it really isn’t hard to figure out if that person is actually any good at their job. With a quick check of their stats and a peek at their trophy case, we can paint an immediate picture of whether that athlete is an elite performer, a functional role player or somebody who should probably be working in another industry altogether.
But if you’re judging IT professionals, the signposts of an elite performer aren’t quite so easy to spot. However, an overwhelming majority of hiring managers say there is one clear, effective barometer for evaluating IT talent, sight unseen. 93% of hiring managers say IT certifications are valuable in helping a company know exactly what a job candidate can really do.
For over three decades, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has set the standard — literally — for how IT workers tackle system maintenance and management. Their certification exams are among the clearest signals possible that an IT pro has the knowledge and skills to get these vital jobs filled with qualified, can’t-miss talent.
StackSocial has a bit of a reputation themselves, serving as one of the largest curators of online learning deals anywhere on the web. Right now, they’re offering up the massive 14-course Complete 2018 CompTIA Certification Training Bundle, a nearly $5,000 package of their most elite instruction, for only $59.
With vital, potentially six-figure jobs on the line, CompTIA talked with hiring managers and found the four primary reasons they treat certification like gold in filling their open positions.
1. You know what you know
It seems obvious, but even if you’ve spent years in the IT game, that piece of paper proving you’re up to date on bedrock hardware and software solutions is the best proof possible that you can actually walk the walk. Career accomplishments and personal recommendations are great, but when a completely impartial evaluator like CompTIA deems you up to snuff, your certification becomes endorsement shorthand that you can be trusted.
And in case you’re wondering what the guy on the other side of the desk is thinking, remember this: 92% of HR professionals are certified in their own field. They know the value certification has in their job sector, so CompTIA’s seal of approval goes a long way with them as well.
2. Certification is often the price of admission itself
The median annual American salary is around $52,000, but if you’re an IT professional, that jumps to almost $83,000. Couple that with the fact that unemployment in the IT sector is below 2.5% and you understand why open jobs get filled quickly. With so many resumes crossing their in-boxes, hiring managers need some snap criteria to separate the real prospects from the fluff. Turns out, that criteria often includes certification.
In fact, 72% of employers require IT certification for some of their most crucial open positions. If you’re certified, you’ll at least get a second look. If you’re not, it’s the end of the line. It’s that simple. CompTIA certification can be the black-and-white, yes/no determiner of whether or not you get the job you’re chasing.
3. Keep learning, stay working
No industry moves faster or shifts on a dime with more regularity than technology. With vast changes popping up all the time, who’s a more attractive employee: a 20-year industry vet who last cracked a study book when Monica Lewinsky was headline news; or an industry newbie who’s nonetheless amassed a stack of certifications in all the most timely, most widely used tools and procedures in the business?
Technology demands constant growth, which certification reinforces in spades. Companies find continued education and professional growth so important that 97% of employers provide either time, financial support or both to help IT employees earn and update their valued certifications.
4. How does IT manager sound?
All that professional growth has to lead to something, right? The answer is, yes, it does deliver promotions and more money in your bank account. Companies know certification is a two-way street: they reap the benefits of your advancing education, you get rewarded as a motivated, conscientious, upwardly mobile asset.
Currently, 80% of employers reward staffers who pass certification exams with pay raises, bonuses or promotions. Ask employers about certified employees and the smart ones will tell you they’re more confident, more knowledgeable, work faster, are more reliable and generally excel at a higher level than those you aren’t.
With all those factors to consider, it isn’t hard to see the immediate and long-term benefits of the top-flight certification training.
This package of instruction will have you poised to ace 14 different CompTIA certification exams. To put a final cherry on this certification pitch, this package would normally cost over $4,900, but StackSocial is making it available now for just $59 while this limited time offer lasts.
TechCrunch is teaming up with StackSocial to bring you deals on the latest gadgets, tech toys, apps, and tutorials. This post does not constitute editorial endorsement, and we earn a portion of all sales. If you have any questions about the products you see here or previous purchases, please contact StackSocial support here.
